Katsina health workers suspend strike

Health workers in Katsina State have suspended their seven-day warning strike following talks with Governor Dikko Radda over excellent wage changes and welfare calls for.

The suspension took impact on Sunday, 18 October, based on a round reportedly issued by the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (AHCP).

The improvement was introduced in a newsflash attributed to the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Mohammed, and likewise reported by Katsina Times.

The round, dated 17 October and attributed to the meeting’s chairman, Ibrahim Balange, directed members to renew medical and administrative duties throughout public health amenities following a gathering with the governor on 16 October.

The meeting contains the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP).

According to the assertion, the governor dedicated to reopening negotiations over the workers’ excellent calls for, together with wage changes, allowances and profession development.

However, the announcement didn’t set up whether or not the federal government had agreed to the workers’ proposed wage changes or when excellent funds could be made.

Government’s commitments

The assertion attributed to Mr Kaula mentioned the federal government agreed to reopen negotiations by a technical roundtable.

The commitments embrace a assessment and implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in accordance with relevant authorities circulars, alongside a complete assessment of hazard, name obligation and shift obligation allowances.

The authorities additionally reportedly agreed to handle the skipping of CONHESS grade degree 10 for eligible officers, in keeping with the relevant scheme of service.

A joint technical committee is anticipated to be established with outlined phrases of reference and a timeline for addressing the excellent points.

However, neither the assertion nor the reported round specified when the committee would start work or when the proposed changes could be applied.

The meeting reportedly recommended Mr Radda for intervening within the dispute and thanked its members for his or her cooperation in the course of the industrial motion.

How the dispute started

The suspension follows months of disagreement between health workers and the Katsina State Government over wage disparities and allowances.

As PREMIUM TIMES reported on 15 October, the meeting declared the warning strike after a seven-day discover issued on 7 October expired with out a passable decision.

Mr Balange mentioned the dispute dated again to 2024, when the federal government indicated plans to assessment health workers’ remuneration in keeping with what their counterparts obtain in federal health establishments.

A committee established to look at the complaints subsequently submitted suggestions in March 2025, however the union mentioned the federal government didn’t implement them.

According to the union, the state’s Office of Public Service Reform initially provided workers 10 per cent of the wage distinction between state and federal health professionals.

The authorities later elevated the provide to fifteen per cent, however the workers rejected it as insufficient.

Mr Balange mentioned the meeting had sought full implementation of the relevant federal wage construction and allowances however was prepared to just accept 75 per cent as a compromise.

The disagreement ultimately led to the warning strike, which started on 14 October.

Patients affected by strike

The industrial motion disrupted providers at public hospitals, leaving sufferers and caregivers unsure about entry to therapy.

A PREMIUM TIMES report published on Sunday documented disruptions at Turai Yar’Adua Maternal and Child Hospital in Katsina.

During a go to to the hospital on Saturday, just a few sufferers had been seen across the surgical ward.

Caregivers expressed concern over the disruption, together with difficulties accessing therapy for sufferers requiring medical consideration.

The state Head of Service, Masa’ud Banye, had confirmed that authorities officers had been participating the unions to resolve the disagreement.

Although the meeting has now directed its members to return to work, the extent to which regular providers have resumed throughout affected hospitals has not been independently established.

What stays unresolved

The suspension ends the fast industrial motion however leaves questions concerning the implementation of the federal government’s commitments.

The reported settlement doesn’t make clear whether or not the federal government has withdrawn its earlier 15 per cent provide, accepted the union’s proposed 75 per cent compromise or agreed to a different wage adjustment.

It additionally gives no particular date for settling excellent allowances or finishing negotiations.

The workers are searching for improved remuneration and allowances corresponding to these obtainable to their counterparts in federal health establishments.

For now, the reported settlement gives a foundation for renewed negotiations, whereas the decision of the underlying dispute will depend on whether or not the federal government and unions attain an implementable settlement.